Chapter 1
Grace’s grandmother, Kate Harding, and her daughter, Talia Kaufman, were laid to rest side by side.
Though petite, they had filled her world with love.
Her grief left her empty and lost.
Meanwhile, the world kept spinning, with the internet buzzing about her husband and his “first love” and their baby on the
way.
On New Year’s Eve, with celebrations in full swing, Grace took a desperate leap from the building.
Her hatred for Antonio Kaufman ran so deep that her final wish was, “Antonio, may our paths never cross again.”
Clutching the urns of Kate and Talia, Grace started humming hollowly, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star…”
Kate used to sing this to her when she was little, and then Grace sang it to her daughter.
Now, both were gone, leaving Grace so numb with grief that tears wouldn’t come.
When Antonio walked in, he found Grace kneeling on the ground, impatience clear in his eyes.
“Grace, acting up again? What now? Yesenia saved my life.
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Chapter 1
Can’t you stop being such a jealous wife?” he ranted.
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His rant didn’t get a reaction, and her eyes stayed blank.
Since Yesenia came back, Antonio had been like a different person–out all night, doting on her.
At first, Grace tried to fix things, but losing Kate and Talia drained her.
Loving him anymore felt like a betrayal to herself.
Grace’s blank stare and silence made Antonio clench his jaw.
Angrier, he snapped, “Talia didn’t turn out right with you. How can you even call yourself a mother?”
The mention of Talia’s name jolted Grace out of her trance.
Her eyes reddened as she shot back, “Antonio, what kind of dad are you?
“You can hate me, yell at me, even hit me, but how could you leave Talia alone at the playground? She was only seven!
“When we found her, she was in pieces. She couldn’t even rest in peace.”
Grace couldn’t bear the thought of her daughter’s tragic end.
Unlike her usual meek self, her words were filled with hurt and
anger.
“Enough!” Antonio cut her off, impatient. “Yesenia sent someone to pick up Talia. Just because I didn’t take you to see your grandma, you come up with these crazy lies.”
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Chapter 1
Grace felt a chill run through her, her eyes bloodshot. “No one” picked her up. She ran into some creep-”
Antonio frowned, cutting her off again. “If you hadn’t filled Talia’s head with all that crap about Yesenia being a homewrecker, I wouldn’t have had to punish her.
“And you wanted the car to see your grandma right when Yesenia needed to go to the hospital. You’re wicked!”
His hurtful words and the sorrow they carried left Grace on the brink of collapse, unable to find her voice.
Thinking Grace had given in, Antonio coldly said, “Admit you’re wrong and take Talia to apologize to Yesenia.”
With that, he walked away without looking back.
The air was thick with the smell of Yesenia’s lily perfume. Grace felt sick and crouched down, vomiting.
Apologize? She’d rather die.
Grace had been an orphan since she was a child, raised by Kate.
She remembered the day Kate’s house collapsed, and she called Grace for help.
There were no taxis available in the Kaufman’s villa area.
With tears streaming down her face, Grace knelt and begged Antonio to take her there.
But Antonio, cold as ice, refused because Yesenia had burned her hand making soup, and he had to be with her.
The next day, Grace came home with Kate’s ashes, only to find the horrifying sight of Talia’s body in pieces.
The criminal had cut her up so badly that there was no way to even piece her back together.
Grace froze, staring blankly.
But when she touched the tiny, stitched–up body, an agonizing cry escaped her lips.
Talia was so young, barely getting a glimpse of the world.
And Kate had been so excited to celebrate the New Year with them just days ago.
Now, those beautiful memories felt like knives slicing through Grace.
The morgue staff, out of pity, took her to the lounge.
The television was broadcasting news about Antonio splurging on a gemstone called “Éclat” for Yesenia.
Grace slid to the ground, her face ashen.
Holding Kate’s urn, she waited for Talia’s cremation.
Losing two loved ones in just two days completely broke her.
She felt like an empty husk, with nothing left to give.
On the screen, the host wrapped up, saying, “Mr. Kaufman is one in a million as a boyfriend.”
Grace scoffed, “One in a million, huh?”
